The Hindu Ahimsa Foundation guarantees that no cows, bulls or calves will be slaughtered in the production of its milk.

Launched on the market last week, 50 London families have already ordered Ahimsa milk at a cost of £2.25/litre (€2.59/l), plus delivery.

The price includes a £1 charge for production, processing and bottling of milk, 65p towards a pension fund, hospice costs and vet costs, and 30p going on administration and overheads.

Cows at the foundation's organic farm in Kent will only be put in calf every two years and will be required to produce only five calves in their lifetime.

At the age of 13, each cow will be retired to a farm sanctuary in west Wales to live out her days. Heifer calves will join the milking herd and bull calves will be reared and kept until their death at 17-20 years of age.

Ahimsa spokesman Sanjay Tanna said the foundation would require 80-100ac in the coming years to cater for the growing herd size.

"We would love to do something like this in Ireland but, as yet, there are no plans," he said.